That the Man of God May Be Perfect

2 Timothy 3:14-17

[14] But continue thou in those things which thou hast learned, and which have been committed to thee: knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 
Tu vero permane in iis quae didicisti, et credita sunt tibi: sciens a quo didiceris:

[15] And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures, which can instruct thee to salvation, by the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 
Et quia ab infantia sacras litteras nosti, quae te possunt instruere ad salutem, per fidem quae est in Christo Jesu.

[16] All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice, 
Omnis Scriptura divinitus inspirata utilis est ad docendum, ad arguendum, ad corripiendum, et erudiendum in justitia:

[17] That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work. 
Ut perfectus sit homo Dei, ad omne opus bonum instructus.

A few things I would like to point out here. This is the standard text for those Christians who would like to claim that the Bible alone is sufficient for salvation. That is to say, the Christian only needs the Bible to know the things for which he and those to whom he is responsible can be saved, if they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

What this passage is not saying: This passage is not saying the Scriptures alone are enough as a rule of faith, unto salvation. Why? Verses 14 and 15 are referring to the only Scriptures which the Jewish religion had at that time, which Christians call the Old Testament. The New Testament did not exist yet. So, St. Paul is recommending to Timothy to hold fast to what he has learned, which is the very substance of what the word “tradition” means, Latin tradere, to pass on/hand on. He is also recommending the Scriptures which Timothy knew since his infancy, which can instruct him unto salvation. But, all Christians would probably agree that the Old Testament is not sufficient to instruct us unto salvation. Therefore, this passage is not teaching the Bible is sufficient for the instruction of the Christian.

What the passage is saying:

1.      Stay true to what Timothy has learned (verse 14).

2.      The Scriptures (Old Testament), in the context of faith which is in Jesus Christ, can instruct the Christian, unto salvation (verse 15).

3.      All true Scriptures, which are from God, is “profitable” or helpful, to help the Christian (verse 16).

4.      This, so that the “man of God”, that is to say, the Christian, may become perfect, fully equipped to do the work that is pleasing to God (verse 17).

Greek:

2Ti 3:16  πασα γραφη θεοπνευστος (pasa graphe theopneustos, all scripture that is God-breathed) και ωφελιμος (ophelimos, profitable) προς διδασκαλιαν προς Aελεγμον TSBελεγχον προς επανορθωσιν προς παιδειαν την εν δικαιοσυνη
2Ti 3:17  ινα αρτιος (artios, complete or perfect) η ο του θεου ανθρωπος προς (theou anthropos, man of God) παν εργον αγαθον (pas ergon agathon, every good work)  εξηρτισμενος (exartismenos, fully eqipped) (2 Timothy 3:14-17 GNT-V)

The Greek reveals some interesting points here. Verse 16 says that God-breathed Scripture is profitable (pasa graphe theopneustos), for the “man of God” (theou anthropos), who is perfect (artios) and fully equipped (exartismenos) for every good work (pas ergo agathon). So, the question is, if the Bible-only Christian is correct, that God-breathed Scripture alone is sufficient to make the man of God perfect and fully equipped for “every good work”, then why does 2 Tim 2:21 use the same phrase “pas ergon agathon” but shows that other things are necessary to prepare us to do good work?

2Ti 2:21  εαν ουν τις εκκαθαρη εαυτον απο τουτων εσται σκευος εις τιμην ηγιασμενον TSBκαι ευχρηστον τω δεσποτη εις παν εργον αγαθον (pas ergon agathon, every good work) ητοιμασμενον

2Ti 2:21  If any man therefore shall cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and profitable to the Lord, prepared unto every good work.

Cleansing from “iniquity” is also what makes man fit to do παν εργον αγαθον (pas ergon agathon, every good work), and not Scripture alone.

In summary: St. Paul is teaching us that we ought to continue in what we have learned from those who were charged to teach us, also knowing that the Scriptures which come from God can help to instruct us in sound doctrine as well as proper living, unto salvation.

In brief: Sentire cum ecclesia, think with the Church.

L. Gonzaga
Feast of St. John Cantius, 2013